Bundesliga consisting of a single league, after the abolition of the Nord and Süd divisions.
FC Schalke 04 and Hertha BSC were promoted to the Bundesliga while TSV 1860 Munich, VfR Wormatia Worms, Freiburger FC and SpVgg Bayreuth were relegated to the Oberliga.
The three teams relegated from the 1980–81 Bundesliga, Bayer Uerdingen, 1860 Munich and Schalke 04, entered the league.
Due to the format change, there was no promotion for teams from the Oberliga to the 2.
The remaining participants of the league, as well as which teams would be relegated from the previous season, were determined by a sophisticated placement system.